Is it a novel? Science fiction? Fantasy? Crime? Is it important when it was written? If so, [LTPF list of decades], please. No to all. The book itself was written a few decades ago, but it relates to things that happened in the 6th-5th centuries before ChristIs the story set in our world? Yesish In a fictional world?

is it written in the 1st person (hence the me)? Not the book, but a story from it

me = H?A?M? Yes

is the fictional me actually dead? Not yet is there any doubt?

does me think there's a possibility it may have been an accident? It was, but OTWT

did me die from a shooting? DOYD of shooting, but most important... knifing? poison? ... this, beware FA strangulation? a battering? being hit by a car? drowning?

Does he know he's going to die? Yes But doesn't know when? No, it's a matter of hours Was he murdered? No Does he know (or think) this? No Does he know who killed him? No, and this is OTRT! Does he think he does? I lost track here. Would you please rephrase?

Bhuddism? Yes I think there's a parable of the poisoned arrow but I don't know the details - I thought it was about being treated? And yes again -- very well done! If someone wants to keep exploring I will let this stay for one more day, if not -- as Shez discovered the source -- I will $poil it

Does the puzzle statement refer to the fact he wasn't sure who had killed him? Was the person who fired the arrow aware it was poisoned? Was he the one who poisoned it? Did the doctor (or whatever) not treat the wound correctly? Helped spread the poison? Did something that released the poison?

Does the puzzle statement refer to the fact he wasn't sure who had killed him? YesWas the person who fired the arrow aware it was poisoned? Probably, but irrelevantWas he the one who poisoned it? Who knows?Did the doctor (or whatever) not treat the wound correctly? a big yes (-ish), which concludes the storyHelped spread the poison? It spread by itself...Did something that released the poison?

Since all the facts are clear, let's proceed to the

****** SPOILER *******

The puzzle was an introduction to the the "Teaching of the poisoned arrow", a famous Buddhist parable. Here it goes, in short:

Questioned one day about the problem of the infinity of the world, the Buddha said, "Whether the world is finite or infinite, limited or unlimited, the problem of your liberation remains the same." Another time he said, "Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to wait until all these questions have been answered, the man might die first."

Thanks to all who participated.

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